Tuesday, July 24, 2007

My daughters


My younger daughter, Carla, graduated from Duke University this spring with a Master of Environmental Management degree (MEM). Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment offers excellent programs with many sub-specialties to satisfy a variety of interests.

Earlier in the semester she applied to several companies for jobs and all of them made offers. She chose the company she liked best, which happens to be about a million miles away. Well, that’s a mother’s perception. She’s on her way to California, near San Francisco, to start her new job at the end of this month. She’ll be a consultant doing “risk assessment” studies.

Although I’d certainly be more comfortable with her in same time zone as me, I’m extremely proud of her accomplishments, determination, independence, and idealism.

My older daughter, Rachel, lives and works in Manhattan. She’s a professional information specialist for a web design and marketing company in midtown, and likewise, one to make her mother proud!

At the end of last week, the two met up in Washington, D.C, about halfway between New York City and Durham, NC, and from there started the cross-country drive together. They should arrive in San Francisco tomorrow, Wednesday, when they can start house hunting before Rachel returns home.

I’m thrilled the two of them have this opportunity to share each other’s company, even if it is in the cramped quarters of a Subaru hatchback with two cats and boxes of household goods. They are very close, despite more than twelve years difference in age.

They’ve called regularly to report their progress. Last night they were in Salt Lake City, this afternoon they were driving though Nevada. They’ll finish the last leg of their journey in the morning after a stop in Reno for the night.

I can’t say enough how proud I am of these wonderful young women. They are the joy of my life! They’ve grown into their independent spirits, are responsible and headstrong, and lead very interesting lives. They have been of particular comfort to me in the weeks since my diagnosis. And it warms my heart to see how devoted they are to each other.

2 comments:

SeattleSusieQ said...

Lovely. You did good!

Pictures, please?

Ceil said...

Thank you Susan!

My role as mother has always been very important to me. I always wanted to be a good role model and to have good relationships with the girls as women. Both seem to have come to pass and I'm very grateful.